Ornamental and educational device



Sept. 24, 1929. A. EISENBERG OBNAMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed July 25, 1928 v Ewenfi r.- fldralawv Eziren6er Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES ABRAHAM EISENBERG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ORNAMENTAL AND EDUCATI IONAL DEVICE Application filed July 25,

My invention relates to a new and improved ornamental and educational device and more particularly has reference to a plaque or other like work of art which is so constructed as to contain a booklet relating to the subject matter of the plaque.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a devicepresenting an ornamental and instructive design in the form of a plaque. painting, or the like, which device is adapted to contain a booklet having a bearing upon and of particular interest to such design.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a device of the character set forth which may be either suspended upon a wall or set up upon a desk or table in a manner similar to an easel for ornamental and/or instructive purposes.

A still further and more specific object of my invention resides in the provision of an ornamental device which on its front portion presents a reproduction of a work or works of art and on its rear portion is provided with a compartment or pocket for removably retaining a booklet elaborating upon the subject or subjects of the front portion of the device.

Still another object of my invention resides in the provision of a device ofthe character set forth which is simple in construct-ionand inexpensive in manufacture.

Briefly described, my invention consists in forming, as by stamping or otherwise, upon sheet material, preferably metal, an ornamental design or a reproduction of a work of art; providing said sheet material with a backing, also preferably of metal, in which is formed a compartment having means for suspending a booklet or pamphlet therein; and providing the compartment with a hinged closure or cover, which closure or cover forms a support for the device when it is to be set up in easel fashion. At a mid-point in the upper portion of the back is provided an element for suspending the device as by hanging on a wall, this hanging means cooperating with a catch in the compartment closure for bracing the latter when it is desired to stand the device on a table or desk instead of suspending it on a wall. The back por- 1928. Serial No. 295,278.

tion 'of the-device is also provided with a pivoted leaf or button for retaining the compartment cover in closed position when not employed as a back rest and for holding the pages of thebooklet together when the cover isopened to support the device as an easel.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the ornamental and instructive subject on the front face of the device comprises a metallic plaque on which is reproduced in relief in any known manner, as by an appropriate stamping process, a plurality of medallions each portraying the profile of a President of the United States, his name, and period of inoumbency. The medallions are preferably arranged successively in accordance with the terms of ofiice of the men they portray with the Washington medallion occupying a prominent position at the upper, central portion of the plaque. Suitable or namentation is provided on the plaque in addition to the medallions in order to further beautify the entire front face of the device. In this preferred embodiment of the inventi on, the compartment in the rear of the plaque retains a'booklet containing a brief biography of each of the Presidents portrayed on the plaque.

'It will of course be understood that my invention is not limited to the modification above set forth as any group of men or objects may form the subject matter of the plaque and its associated booklet. Likewise the ornamental front face of the device need not be a'metallic plaque but may be formed of other materials and may be a photograph, print, painting, or the like. The ornamental portion of the device may in factbe a reproduction of any work of art or subject of in terest which is described or elaborated upon in the accompanying booklet the essence of the invention residing in the association with an ornamental and/or instructive device of a booklet descriptive thereof.

For a more detailed understanding of my invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing showing preferred forms of my improved device but it is to be expressly understood that the invention, as 100 defined in the appended claims, is by no means limited thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a view of the frontface of the device;

Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite side of the device showing the booklet compartment cover in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a section through the center of the device showing the same set up in the manner of an easel; and I Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified construction.

In the drawing like reference characters refer to similar parts in the different views.

The numeral 10 indicates the front face of the device which, as stated, in the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a metallic plaque on which are stamped the medallions '11 in definite arrangement and the additional ornamentation 12 and 13. When thus formed in relief upon appropriate metal, the reproduction is especially artistic although an ornamental design may be applied to the front portion- 10 in any other manner. A backing 14 is provided for the plaque although this is not essential.

The rear portion of the device comprises in part a sheet of metal 15, the center of which is cut out as shown, and suitably fixed suspended on hair pin wire 21 extending across the upper portion of the compartment below. the hinge 18 and looped through the hinges 18 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Thus suspended, the booklet may be easily removedfrom thecompartment.

'A.wire loop 22, hinged at 23, when in the,

upper position of Fig. 2 forms a convenientmeans for suspending the device on a wall. In the lower POSltlOIkSllOWII in Fig. 3, the

.. loop 22 cooperates with a cup-shaped mem ber 24, either soldered to or stamped out of the cover 17 to brace the latter whereby the cover may form a back restor support for the device should it be desired to set the same up as an easel upon a desk or table.

A retaining member in the form of a leaf orbutton 25, pivoted for rotation at 26 on the sheet 15' adjacent the lower edge of the cover 17, serves to hold the latter in closed 1: position and when the cover is employed as metal 15' is made coextensive in size with.

the front face or plaque. The sheet 15, instead of having its central portion out out as in the above described modification, has its central portion bent inwardly toward the plaque as shown at 15" to thereby form a employed either as a hanging or easel type of ornament andwhich is simple in construction and inexpensive in manufacture.

VVhileI have described with particularity preferred forms of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the. spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising an ornamental front portion, a rear portion having a compartment, a'hinged closure forsaid compartment, forming a back rest for the device when in open position, and

a wire extending across the upper portionof said compartment for suspending a: booklet therein.

1 2. Adevice of the character described com-- I prising'an ornamental front portion, a rear portion having a compartment adapted to prising an ornamental front portion, a rear portion, a hinged plate centrally of'sai-d rear portion, and adapted to be moved outwardly awayfrom said rear portion, a loop on said rear portion for suspending the device, said loop being pivotally attached to said rear portion thereby to be movable upwardly and downwardly in a vertical plane, and a cupshaped member on said plate adapted to receive said loop when moved downwardly and when. the plate is swung outwardly away from said rear portion to thereby form a back rest for the device. v

4. A device'of the character described comprising an ornamental front portion, a rear portion, a compartment in said rear portion adapted to retain a booklet, a hinged cover plate for said compartment, suspending means pivotally supported on said rear portion, and means on said cover plate cooperating with said suspending means when the cover plate is in open position for bracing said cover plate to thereby form a back rest for the device.

5. A device of the character described com prising an ornamental front portion, a rear portion, a compartment in said rear portion adapted to retain a booklet, a hinged cover plate for said compartment, a loop pivotally supported on said rear portion for suspending the device, and a cup-shaped member on said cover plate adapted to receive said loop when the cover plate is in open position.

6. A device of the character described comprising an ornamental front portion, a rear portion having a compartment, a hinged cover plate for said compartment forming a back rest for the device when in open position, a booklet suspended from near the'top of said compartment and independently of said cover plate, and a leaf or button pivoted on said rear portion adjacent said plate for retaining the same in closed position and for retaining the booklet within the compartment when the plate is in open position.

7. A device of the character described com- )1'1S1I10 an ornamental front ortion a rear ortion having a compartment, a booklet sus-' pended in said compartment, a hinged cover plate for sa1d compartment, means for bracmg sald cover plate when 1n open position to form a back rest for the device, and a leaf or button pivoted on said rear portion adjacent said plate for retaining the same in closed position and for retaining the booklet within the compartment when the plate is in open position.

8. A device of the character described comprising an ornamental front portion, a rear portion, a compartment in said rear portion, a booklet suspended in said compartment, a hinged cover plate for said compartment, suspending means pivotally supported on said rear portion, means on said cover plate cooperating with said suspending means when the cover plate is in open position for bracing said cover plate to thereby form a back rest for the device, and a leaf or button pivoted on said rear portion adjacent said plate for retaining the same in closed position and for retaining the booklet within the compartment when the plate is in open position.

9. A device of the character described comprising an ornamental front portion, a rear portion, a compartment in said rear portion, a booklet suspended in said compartment, a hinged cover plate for said compartment, a loop pivotally supported on said rear portion for suspending the device, acup-shaped member on said cover plate adapted to receive said loop when the cover plate is in open position, and a leaf or button pivoted on said rear portion adjacent said plate for retaining the same in closed position and for retaining the booklet within the compartment when the plate is in open position.

10. A device of the character described comprising an ornamental front portion, a rear portion of sheet material, the central portion of said sheet material being bent inwardly toward said front portion to thereby form a compartment adapted to contain a booklet, and a hinged closure for said compartment in alignment with the edges of said rear portion when in closed position.

ABRAHAM EISENBERG. 

